Appeal rejected, police sergeant begins 14-month jail term for taking bribes

PUTRAJAYA: A police sergeant began serving his 14-month jail term today after the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed his appeal against his conviction and sentence for accepting bribes.

A three-member bench comprising Justices Noorin Badaruddin, Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin and Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid also allowed the prosecution’s cross-appeal to reinstate Ridhuan Kasah’s earlier conviction on a separate charge.

Ridhuan was ordered to begin his sentence today and to pay a RM20,000 fine or face an additional 12 months in prison in default.

The policeman was previously granted a stay of execution of his sentence and released on RM20,000 bail pending the disposal of his appeal.

Delivering the unanimous judgment, Noorin said the High Court had erred in acquitting Ridhuan on the first charge and was correct in upholding his conviction on the second charge.

She said the prosecution adduced clear, consistent and credible evidence that proved every essential element of the first charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

On the second charge, she said Ridhuan’s defence amounted to a bare denial and failed to offer any reasonable explanation to rebut the prosecution’s case.

Ridhuan was charged with two counts of accepting RM1,000 in bribes from Syed Firdaus Syed Hussin at the Pekan police headquarters’ criminal investigation department office on Sept 18 and Sept 19, 2020.

The money was allegedly offered as an inducement for the policeman not to take legal action against Syed Firdaus.

On Feb 7, 2024, the sessions court convicted Ridhuan on both charges and sentenced him to 14 months in prison and a RM20,000 fine, or another 12 months in jail in default.

On Nov 3 last year, the High Court acquitted him on the first charge but upheld his conviction and sentence on the second charge.

Lawyers Hissham Ramdzan, Hamizey Mat Taib and Halimaton Saadiah Abu Samah represented Ridhuan, while deputy public prosecutors Farah Ezlin Yusof Khan, Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin, Nidzuwan Abd Latip and Atirah Azuarizanuddin prosecuted.